Coates Hire has provided the portable buildings to the Australian Grand Prix for 10 years, lighting towers and compressors and track recovery cranes for the past five years.

Equipment capability

“It’s a massive undertaking but our sheer size and capability means there wouldn’t be many others in our industry who could deliver the material and expertise needed,” says Clifton.

Coates Hire arrives early in January at the site at Melbourne’s Albert Park to begin installation of equipment and the team doesn’t completely leave the site until April. That’s a three month task for up to 10 to 12 staff, and it expands to up to 25 during the event weekend.

Clifton says the event has to run without a hitch as there is simply no margin for error, which is why project planning and management is critical to the project.

“If a car stops on the track we have to be able to remove it quickly and each year we work with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to become more efficient and to alleviate risk.”

He says the sheer numbers and the quantity of equipment required for the event is his major challenge.

“We have to ensure the equipment is up to the standard we require when we bring it in from a wide range of sources.”

According to Clifton the key challenges for Coates Hire are:

• sourcing the large amounts of equipment required

• resourcing the build and managing the impact on day-to-day business

• juggling equipment with the Avalon Airshow which occurs every two years.

“Thankfully, we have a very experienced team that has worked with the corporation for many years on the ground. We know where things need to go and how things work from our perspective.

“We have a wealth of expertise in delivering temporary infrastructure solutions for events around Australia and actively support motor sport as a category that aligns well with our customers and staff.”